Before the 2013 legislative session, we discovered that an error in the law was sending money that voters had intended for education and other services, into urban renewal programs. We acted quickly, working with local school districts and other education advocates to correct this problem. The bill passed unanimously in the Legislature. This showed strong statewide support for the fix.

With this law in place, now Portland Public Schools (and other local services) can make sure voters get what they are paying for. We are glad they brought the question back before the voters and are asking for renewed support for area schools.

In enacting this legislation and closing the urban renewal loophole, the Legislature succeeded in providing sound oversight and accountability. The school district and district leadership should be commended for their swift action on bringing this issue forward, but it is our region's children, teachers and families who will benefit.

The structure of funds raised by local option levies can be a bit wonky, but no longer will an obscure statue for urban renewal stand between the voters and their support for schools. It is our job to ensure that the public's money is responsibly spent, and we are hopeful that a job well done will continue to enable local support for our schools.

Margaret Doherty and Jules Bailey

Margaret Doherty is state representative for House District 35. Jules Bailey is a Multnomah County commissioner and former state representative for House District 42

•

Demolishing old homes

I'm very sorry to hear that Kevin Rose and his wife are disappointed in the fixer-upper they bought ("Sold for $1.3M, now to be razed," June 20). Maybe they should flip it to someone who would appreciate living in a beautiful old Portland home and look around for a nice already-vacant lot. I think Portland should have something in their price range.

Michael Hubbard

Southeast Portland

•

When you "buy" a house, you are still a tenant. Very few of us stay in a home for generations and even if we did, the house will outlive us. We frequently change neighborhoods or cities in search of jobs, schools, more pleasing neighborhoods or more affordable options. We shouldn't lose sight of the fact that homes are architectural artifacts. They record the ways of the past — front porches, amazing carpentry, interesting nooks, turrets and balconies. I live in an old house and it is indeed a headache. But I respect the fact that it is unique and built with old growth timber. I recognize that, despite living in this house for twenty years, I most likely will be moving on some day; this house will (hopefully) still stand. I understand this house has historic and cultural significance and once it is gone, it is gone, and can never be recreated with modern materials.

As Americans we need to take notes from other countries where they value the importance of architectural history. Tearing town a grand old house is wasteful, not just in disposing of the materials, but in the physical marker of architectural history.

How many Victorian-era homes are left in Portland? Not many. And if convenience was the bottom line, none would remain.

Sarah Nagy

Southeast Portland

•

When Kevin Rose decided to buy a historic house in Portland, he may not have been aware that he was also buying a community. We think differently here, having avoided most features of Californication. Tearing down a historic dwelling to put in a modern McMansion in the heart of Northwest Portland doesn't register in the mind. I am heartened by the community rallying around the house and dismayed by the hubris of Rose's thinking. If you come to Portland, be Portland.

Victoria Cummings

Southwest Portland

•

Oil trains

The contrast was striking in side-by-side articles in The Oregonian: An article ("Project's double track: safety, more oil trains," June 18) describing the efforts in the town of Rainier to provide for the transit of mile-long trains carrying crude oil from North Dakota described how this product is "far more flammable than traditional crude and moves in tank cars that aren't as safe as they could be" — a description consistent with a multitude of information on this subject.

A second article ("In railroad industry's backyard, safety bill derided as ineffective," June 18) — literally across the same page — quotes Kari Cutting of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, who told the Washington State Senate Energy, Environment & Telecommunications Committee just the opposite — that Bakken crude "is not more volatile than other crude oil."

To industry folks and lobbyists the truth seems to mean nothing when their economic interests are at stake.

Kathy McLaughlin

Southwest Portland

•

Convention Center hotel

Metro president Tom Hughes suggests that voters had their say on the proposed Convention Center hotel when they re-elected him, and that this is sufficient reason for going forward. I say he's got to be kidding. I don't believe he has the power in his elected office to do whatever he feels is within his domain. Certainly a huge project — with a hugeprice tag — should be referred to us voters. I would probably vote for it, if the vote were today. Make the case and refer it to the people.

Courtney Brooks

Southeast Portland

•

Student loans

I have read some real doozies from Elizabeth Hovde but "More compassion than good sense" (June 15) takes the prize for journalists who fall all over themselves to defend the 1 percent. Hovde argues that Republicans were right to sink a bill allowing college graduates to refinance student loans. Why? Because letting graduates take advantage of lower interest rates would mean that financial institutions would make less money.

By all means, keep schilling for rich financiers, Hovde. It is outrageous to suggest that their bottom lines should be less fat. It's much better to force young adults — who have the gumption to earn a college degree — to spend years paying off huge loans instead of buying a reliable car or a modest house. Besides the economic aspect, which so curiously troubles Hovde, let's remember that America is competing against many countries that invest in higher education for all.

Steve Wheeler

Northeast Portland

•

SAIF CEO fired

SAIF CEO John Plotkin should have been dismissed for a single utterance. "My dog is a humper. He likes to hump black dogs," Plotkin told another employee, thereby offending people of color, women and animal rights enthusiasts in one sentence.

Louis Sargent

Northwest Portland

•

School shooting

I agree with Shirlee Valo's letter (June 20). Where is the responsibility of gun owners in allowing minors access to guns and ammunition in their home? Even though we teach minors all the safety rules on guns, there is always the possibility that we do not know what is going through a minor's head.

It is time for a law to be created so that if a minor commits a crime with a gun that is accessible in a home, then the gun owner is also responsible for the crime and punished. I grieve with both sets of parents, knowing that losing children is very painful; I lost two sons to a drunk driver. When a crime is committed that could have been prevented, it makes the grieving even harder.

The death of these two youths because guns were accessible to a minor is even sadder and harder to understand.

Linda Sundve

Banks

•

Legalizing marijuana

It seems ironic that in the last few years we've been hearing a lot about the negative health effects of cigarette smoking but now we have people pushing to legalize marijuana. As Congressman Earl Blumenauer recently pointed out, statistics show that marijuana has the distinction of being less addictive than alcohol or tobacco. I once read that marijuana burns hotter than tobacco, so there is a possibility it could do more lung damage.

It is my understanding that Oregon's marijuana laws during the last 40 years allow a person to have under one ounce which would be classified as a violation and result in a fine like a traffic ticket. So Oregon has had a somewhat liberal marijuana law and it may have contributed to our state ranking fourth in the nation in the percentage of residents using illegal drugs.

If we care about our youth, who can easily become "users," Oregonians will again vote down any initiative on the ballot for legalizing this gateway drug.